Search Results (185)

This study presents a paleopathological analysis of individual T4.2 from the archaeological site of the castle of Zorita de los Canes (Guadalajara, Spain). The individual exhibits ultradolichocephaly and was dated between the 13th and 15th centuries. Based on the context, the individual could have been a member of the military–religious Order of Calatrava. Standard bioanthropological and paleopathological methods were applied. The results indicate a male aged between 45 and 49 years with a maximum cranial length and width of 230 mm and 122 mm, respectively. The cranial index (53%) allows him to be classified as ultradolichocephalic. The remains present craniosynostosis at the sagittal, squamosal and sphenofrontal sutures, together with underdevelopment of the skull base width and a dolichognathic mandible with the possible presence of type III prognathism. The left hemimandible and hemimaxilla display a large amount of tartar covering the occlusal, labial and lingual areas of the teeth completely. The right hemimandible and hemimaxilla exhibit almost no tartar, and some teeth were lost in vivo. In addition, two stab wounds—to the external occipital protuberance and to the left temple—as well as a contused injury in the left tibia, can be observed without evidence of bone remodeling. Differential diagnosis indicates a case consistent with Crouzon syndrome. This individual is of particular significance because he was a possibly knight of the Order of Calatrava who presents a syndromic craniosynostosis consistent with Crouzon syndrome and exhibits lesions, which may suggest that he could have died in battle. Full article

Cardiac surgery, now a routine medical intervention, was once deemed unthinkable—not merely due to technical limitations, but because of deep-seated cultural, religious, and philosophical prohibitions. This article traces the historical and ethical trajectory of the human heart from a sacred, inviolable symbol of the soul to a surgically accessible organ. Through an interdisciplinary lens that integrates medical history, anthropology, theology, and contemporary bioethics, we examine how shifts in metaphysical belief, technological progress, and moral reasoning gradually legitimized cardiac intervention. From ancient Egyptian funerary rites and classical cardiocentric models to medieval religious taboos and Enlightenment redefinitions of the body, the heart’s transformation reflects broader changes in how humanity conceives life, death, and identity. The emergence of modern cardiac surgery, especially heart transplantation and extracorporeal technologies, raised new ethical dilemmas, challenging the boundaries between tissue and meaning, biology and personhood. This study argues that despite its clinical secularization, the heart retains a unique symbolic gravity that continues to shape public perception and professional responsibility. In the age of precision medicine, cardiac surgery remains not only a technical act but an existential gesture—a transgression that demands both scientific mastery and moral reverence. Full article

The Shrine Madonna is a unique form of cult statuary within the wider Madonna and Child tradition, linked to broader Marian iconography. Building on previous scholarship, this article focuses on the visual relationship between the Virgin and the worshiper, giving primacy to the Shrine Madonna’s gaze. Analyzing three key examples: the Boubon, Rhineland, and Morlaix, Shrine Madonnas reveal how these objects function as mediators of sacred presence, theology, and compassion. Theoretical frameworks surrounding gaze theory and medieval concepts of vision and visuality buttress a discussion of three distinct gazes—direct, mutual, and averted—that facilitate a compassionate response and establish divine hierarchy. This work argues for a shift from viewing Shrine Madonnas as static devotional objects toward recognizing their dynamic role in mediating affective spiritual exchange. Shrine Madonnas are active subjects who command theological space and engage viewers through a reciprocal gaze that alters perception. Rather than passively being observed, they watch back, reflecting and redirecting the viewer’s desire, thereby implicating and transforming them. Full article

The Royal Textile Factory of Covilhã, founded in 1764, is the perfect example of the Portuguese Industrial and Cultural Heritage. Despite its historical significance, comprehensive studies on the dyeing techniques employed in the 18th century remain scarce. Given the influence of French technology on Portuguese wool production, this study presents a comparative analysis of French and Spanish dyeing recipes to understand their influence on the practices adopted by the Portuguese wool industry. Focusing on the production of red dyes from cochineal insects, one of the main colours used in Covilhã until the late 19th century, this work presents the reconstruction of selected 18th-century scarlet recipes. Quantitative and qualitative differences between French and Spanish methodologies were analysed, particularly regarding the use of mordants, the quantities of cochineal, and the role of pH and tin liquor in achieving scarlet shades. The results highlight that although both traditions relied heavily on cochineal, significant variations existed in recipe composition and application. This work contributes to a better understanding of historical dyeing techniques and supports future conservation and reproduction efforts for Portuguese textile heritage. Full article

Documenting and preserving cultural heritage assets is increasingly important, with threats from natural disasters, conflicts, climate change, and neglect, and some sites are both contested and physically difficult to access or document, posing the issue of “challenging heritage”. A range of innovative digital methods have emerged, offering practical, low-cost, efficient techniques for the 3D documentation of threatened heritage, including smart phone-based mobile light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and photogrammetry. Such techniques offer quick, accessible, and cost-effective alternatives to terrestrial laser scanners, albeit with reduced accuracy and detail, offering practical solutions in cases with restricted funding, limited time for access, complex architectural geometries, or the unavailability of high-end equipment on site. This paper presents a real-world case study integrating iPhone LiDAR with aerial photogrammetry for the rapid documentation of Sourp Magar Monastery, a Medieval site located in a forested slopes of the Kyrenia Range, Cyprus. Due to its poor state of preservation and years of abandonment, as well as its remote nature and location, the monastery is considered a “challenging heritage” monument. In the context of a recent international restoration initiative, a preliminary digital survey was undertaken to both document the current condition of Sourp Magar and contribute to a better understanding of its construction history. This paper outlines the workflow integrating the use of smartphone LiDAR and aerial photogrammetry, evaluates its efficacy in challenging heritage sites, and discusses its potential implications for rapid, low-cost documentation. Finally, the present paper aims to show the multifaceted benefit of easy-to-use, low-cost technologies in the preliminary study of sites and monuments. Full article

In recent years, China has invested substantial funds in ecological restoration, achieving significant accomplishments. The forest coverage rate in the Chengde Bashang area, located in the transitional zone between the monsoon and non-monsoon regions, has now reached 82%. However, the area has also encountered a series of environmental issues, including lake shrinkage, soil salinization, and large-scale die-offs of planted forests. Whether the forests in this region can achieve sustainable development in the future, and whether ecological restoration should prioritize tree planting or grass cultivation, are critical questions that require attention. By studying the historical vegetation dynamics in afforested areas, we can better understand the relationship between climatic environmental changes and vegetation, providing baseline data for future ecological restoration. This study utilized AMS ¹⁴C dates to establish a chronological framework for the core and employed pollen to investigate vegetation dynamics over the past 5000 years in the artificial Larix Mill. forest area. The vegetation and environmental history of this core can be divided into three zones: Zone 1 (5100–4100 a B.P.): vegetation was dominated by pine and spores, with low herbaceous pollen content. Zone 2 (4100–1400 a B.P.): vegetation was primarily herbaceous. Zone 3 (1400 a B.P.–present): arboreal pollen content increased slightly, but herbaceous plants remained dominant. This period included the warm–dry Medieval Warm Period (1400–900 a B.P.), the cold–humid Little Ice Age (900–300 a B.P.), and the recent 300 years of anthropogenic disturbance. Notably, the large-scale afforestation efforts in recent decades are clearly reflected in the profile. A comparative analysis of records from the monsoon–non-monsoon transition zone reveals that, except for Angulinao Lake, other records were dominated by herbaceous vegetation over the past 2000 years. Additionally, the Mu Us Sandy Land, Hunshandake Sandy Land, Hulunbuir Sandy Land, and Horqin Sandy Land in China have experienced aeolian sand accumulation over the same period. Given the anticipated warming–desiccation trend, phytoremediation strategies should favor xerophytic shrubs and herbaceous over monospecific forest plantations. Full article

The strategic position of the coast of the Kingdom of Seville, along the western route between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, encouraged the presence of numerous fleets and merchant nations in its ports and waters. The proliferation of privateers and armed conflicts, both in Andalusian waters and beyond, had a significant impact on navigation and trade. This article examines the diplomatic strategies developed by the Genoese consuls in Seville to protect the interests of their nation in the maritime conflicts that affected them. Full article

Medieval and modern readers of Johannes de Hauvilla’s late XII-century Latin poem Architrenius have proposed an array of discordant interpretations of the eponymous protagonist. This paper offers a historical profile of the critical reception of this peculiar fictional character, tracing responses from the Middle Ages to the present day. Given the poem’s limited dissemination and the modest critical attention it has received in modern times, it is possible to provide a nearly comprehensive overview of the reception history of the Architrenius. We analyze and classify the terminology and the argumentative strategies used by critics in constructing their portrait of the hero of Johannes’ poem and observe how these choices interact with the overall critical assessment of the Architrenius. Our analysis identifies two principal families of readers—both philologically and thematically—suggesting a dual trajectory in the reception of the poem throughout the centuries. Full article

Virtual Archaeology is defined as ‘the scientific discipline that seeks to research and develop ways of using computer-based visualizations for the comprehensive management of archaeological heritage’. In essence, it involves the creation of virtual models of various types whose purpose is to represent elements of the past based on historical data obtained from research. It is a discipline that has experienced a boom in recent years, thanks to the democratization of both technology and training, and has become one of the most fruitful branches of what is known as Digital Humanities. However, despite its name, it has applications beyond the field of archaeology, notably in Art History. In this sense, it allows recovering the original likeness of lost or altered works, the formulation of research hypotheses, or the generation of resources with great didactic and dissemination potential. This study aims to offer an overview of the fundamentals of the discipline and explore the possibilities it offers to Medieval Art History. Furthermore, this study serves as a starting point for new projects. Full article

Monastic life presents a contrast to many aspects of modern existence (the rule of ideology, consumerism, various forms of negativity, dominance of the virtual, forgetfulness). The following essay explores this contrast and its presence throughout the long history of monasticism, with a focus on early Northern and Western monasticism on the one hand, and the modern Benedictine tradition on the other. The counter-cultural dimensions of monastic life range from special landscapes and sacred space to the function of time, and from the transcendental role of prayer to the earthy nature of hard work. Not only do the traditions of monastic scholarship and the books gathered in monastic libraries help preserve the memory and reinforce the special counter-culture of monasteries, but the monasteries remain to this day places of healing and sources of hope. The poem “Pilgrimage” composed in 1929 by Austin Clarke captures the character of monastic life not only as something contrary, but as an essential way of life, which has survived from the founding of medieval Clonmacnoise up until today. Full article

The Cathedral of Beauvais remains one of the most enigmatic and ambitious architectural undertakings of the Gothic era. Conceived to surpass all other cathedrals in height and grandeur, it achieved unprecedented verticality but collapsed under the weight of its own aspirations. This article reexamines Beauvais as a case study in Gothic engineering—its structural daring, tragic failures, and enduring legacy—through a multidisciplinary approach combining historical research, technical analysis, and philosophical interpretation. Structured in accordance with standard academic conventions, the article outlines its methodology, presents a detailed reconstruction of the cathedral’s history, and discusses its broader cultural and conservation implications. A dedicated discussion section explores not only the engineering and symbolic significance of Beauvais but also the limitations of the present study and potential avenues for future research. Ultimately, the cathedral is framed not merely as a failed monument, but as a lasting testament to the human drive to build beyond known limits. Full article

His baptismal name, Fernando de Bulhões (1195–1231), may say little to many people, but his religious name, St. Anthony, certainly says a lot, especially to the Portuguese. In fact, the cult of St. Anthony is indelibly inscribed in the religious landscape of Portugal, with particular intensity in Lisbon. This study, of an ethnographic and historical nature, is an innovative approach to this emblematic medieval figure, capable of so many miracles, veneration, revelry festivals, and processions among the people of Lisbon and the Portuguese in general, right up to the present day. The history of this Saint and his cult, as an expression of popular religiosity, will be discussed, favouring the dimensions of marriage and commerce in a comparative approach between two ethnographic contexts: Lisbon and Viana do Castelo. The notions of popular religion, syncretism, cult of the saints, and pilgrimage–procession will, therefore, be instrumental. The data collected and analysed are based on a mixed methodological triangulation of qualitative data complemented by quantitative data, using direct participant observations (ethnographic) and indirect observations (collected through semi-structured interviews and informal conversations), as well as documentary sources. Full article

A series (n = 22) of glasses from the site Kapucinski vrt (garden of the Capuchin monastery, 5th–17th c. CE) in Koper (Capodistria), a port town in the northern Adriatic, was measured using a combined PIXE and PIGE method. Koper has been continuously populated since the late Roman period, with a rich medieval history, thus offering an opportunity to study Early Medieval glass. Stemmed goblet fragments, in the original publication dated between the 6th–9th centuries CE, and several other vessel types (beakers and flasks or bottles and lamps) were selected for analysis. The measurements were expected to show the trends in glass production and consumption from Late Antiquity until the Middle Ages, notably the transition between natron to plant ash glass and the supply of fresh glass. Among the set of 22 glass vessel fragments, both natron and plant ash glass were identified. For finer classification, we relied on a newly developed method of Euclidean distances with respect to major concentrations. Natron glass of the types Foy 2.1 (9 examples), Magby (2 examples), and Levantine I (Apollonia; 2 examples) was found. Two glasses remain undetermined but testify to an Egyptian origin. Most natron glasses show signs of recycling. Among the three unrecycled glasses (about 20% of the whole set), there are two examples of Levantine glass and a Magby glass lamp; this may indicate a modest supply of fresh glass during the period. Plant ash glass may be attributed to the Early or High Middle Ages, exploiting the purified alkalis of the Levantine coasts (known as alume catino in later Venetian glassmaking), and the admixture of impurities in the siliceous sands suggests the circulation and consumption of glass that was produced and traded in the eastern Mediterranean since the 10th century CE. Full article

The author analyzes various cases of breaking seal matrices in medieval Catalonia and other regions in this text. The manuscript notes of the Catalan sigillographer Ferran de Sagarra guide the exploration of the mechanisms of signification associated with an essential medieval political theology. Beyond the materiality of the sigillary matrix and the printed seal, one can decipher a series of iconic behaviors that allow the author to propose a method for understanding European cultural history through anachronistic narrative forms akin to those of Aby Warburg, Walter Benjamin, or, more recently, Georges Didi-Huberman. It is possible to demonstrate the historical validity of seals in the service of a cultural history and thought that transcends political or religious narratives, opening new horizons in the understanding of the Latin West from the Carolingian period to the apex of international Gothic. Full article

The olfactory sense and experience are considered a conduit between spirituality and the divine realm in Daoism. The ceremonial use of incense in Daoism (shixiang 侍香) has been explored from various theological perspectives and described by numerous liturgists. Despite its importance, several questions about the development and history of Daoist olfactory culture remain unresolved. This paper examines medieval religious dialogs concerning divine smells and smoke before and during the Tang dynasty, a period marked by the interaction and mutual influence of Daoism and Buddhism in China. I argue that medieval Daoism enhanced its soteriology by adopting the concept of vāsanā (xun 薰) from Buddhism, particularly Yogâcāra. Xuan Zang’s 玄奘 translation corpus of Vasubandhu, Cheng Weishi Lun 成唯識論, along with the treatises of two Tang Daoist liturgists Zhu Faman’s 朱法滿 and Du Guangting’s 杜光庭, reveal a shared belief that sacred smells transform the perfumed at a profound level, embedding the divine essence within them. The Yogâcāra concept of vāsanā, elucidated by Xuan Zang, was readily incorporated into Tang Daoism due to their shared soteriological interests. Tang Daoism was in the process of codifying its rituals for self-purification and collective salvation, thereby enhancing the significance of incense through its dynamic absorption of vāsanā. The olfactory practices in medieval Daoism demonstrate that East Asian medieval soteriology promoted universalism through the ritual interactions between Buddhism and Daoism. Full article